Lavender plant named ‘Meerlo’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Lavender plant named ‘Meerlo’ that is characterized by variegated leaves that have a grey-green center with creamy yellow colored margins.

Botanical classification: Lavandula allardii.

Variety denomination: ‘Meerlo’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lavender plant botanically known as Lavandula allardii and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Meerlo’.

The new cultivar was discovered in 2011 growing in population of unidentified Lavandula allardii plants. The exact parent plants are unknown. ‘Meerlo’ was discovered as a single plant in a greenhouse in a cultivated area of Waiuku, New Zealand.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Meerlo’ by terminal cuttings was first performed in 2011 in Waiuku, New Zealand. Since that time, under careful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the new Lavender cultivar ‘Meerlo’. These traits in combination distinguish ‘Meerlo’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   -   1. Lavender ‘Meerlo’ exhibits variegated leaves that have a         grey-green center with creamy yellow colored margins.

The closest comparison cultivar is Lavender ‘African Pride’. ‘Meerlo’ is different than ‘African Pride’ in having variegated leaves that have a grey-green center with creamy yellow margins. In comparison, the leaves of ‘African Pride’ are a single grey-green color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits of Lavender ‘Meerlo’. The plant in the photograph shows an overall view of a 12 month old plant. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Lavender cultivar named ‘Meerlo’. Data was collected in Waiuku, New Zealand from 12 month old greenhouse grown plants. The time of year was Summer and the average temperature was 20 to 28° Centigrade during the day and 9 to 18° Centigrade at night. Color determinations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similar to the species. ‘Meerlo’ has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula allardii ‘Meerlo’. -   Use: Ornamental Perennial. -   Parentage: The exact parent plants of ‘Meerlo’ are unknown. -   Vigor: Moderate. -   Container size: 9 cm. and larger. -   Growth habit: Upright, outwardly spreading. -   Plant shape: Rounded with erect flower spikes. -   Height: Average 90 cm. in height. -   Width: Average 120 cm. in width. -   Hardiness: −9° to 38° C. -   Propagation: Terminal cuttings. -   Crop time: 8 months. -   Stem:     -   -   Branching habit.—Free branching.         -   Number of lateral branches.—Approximately 80.         -   Lateral branch diameter.—6 mm. in diameter.         -   Lateral branch length.—62 cm. in length.         -   Lateral branch strength.—Strong.         -   Color.—191B.         -   Pubescence.—Lightly covered with short hairs.         -   Internode length.—4.6 cm. between nodes.         -   Shape.—Round. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Compound or single.—Single.         -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—50.         -   Leaf shape.—Linear.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf base.—Rounded.         -   Leaf length.—7.5 cm. in length.         -   Leaf width.—8.2 mm. in width.         -   Texture.—Velvety.         -   Pubescence.—Present.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire.         -   Vein pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—191A with margins 10D.         -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—191A with margins 10D.         -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—191A with margins 10D.         -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—191A with margins 10D.         -   Vein color (both surfaces).—191A.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile. -   Flower:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Terminal cylindrical spikes.         -   Inflorescence dimensions.—12 to 15 cm. in length and 2 to             2.5 cm. in diameter.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per inflorescence.—86-112.         -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—13.         -   Flowering season.—Spring to Summer.         -   Time to flower or response time.—4 to 6 weeks after buds             form.         -   Fragrance.—Musk scent.         -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self cleaning.         -   Flower bud length.—6.3-7.9 mm.         -   Flower bud diameter.—1.6-2.3 mm.         -   Flower bud shape.—Fusiform.         -   Bud color.—N88B.         -   Flower aspect.—Diagonally upward.         -   Flower shape.—Salverform.         -   Flower dimensions.—6.1 mm. in width and 13.1 mm. in length.         -   Flower longevity.—Lasts approximately 20 to 25 days.         -   Petal arrangement.—Rotate with five petals fused into a             tube.         -   Lobe shape.—Spathulate.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal apex.—Rounded.         -   Petal texture (both surfaces).—Velvety.         -   Unfused lobe dimensions.—3.3 mm. in length and 2.3 mm. in             width.         -   Petal color when opening (upper side).—92A.         -   Petal color when opening (under side).—92A.         -   Petal color when fully opened (upper side).—92A.         -   Petal color when fully opened (under side).—92A. -   Sepals:     -   -   Sepal number.—5.         -   Sepal shape.—Linear.         -   Sepal apex.—Acute.         -   Sepal base.—Fused.         -   Sepal margin.—Entire.         -   Sepal texture (both surfaces).—Velvety.         -   Sepal dimensions.—7 mm. in length and 1 mm. in width.         -   Sepal color (both surfaces).—N88B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—42 to 57 cm. in length and 2.5 mm. in             diameter.         -   Peduncle angle.—Vertical.         -   Peduncle color.—133C.         -   Peduncle strength.—Medium. -   Bracts:     -   -   Bract arrangement.—At the base of successive whorls of             flowers.         -   Bract shape.—Elongate Rhomboidal.         -   Bract apex.—Acuminate.         -   Bract base.—Acuminate.         -   Bract margin.—Entire.         -   Bract texture (both surfaces).—Velvety.         -   Bract dimensions.—2 to 6 mm. in length and 2 to 9 mm. in             width.         -   Bract color (both surfaces).—85A with midrib 143B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen number.—4.         -   Anther shape.—Dorsifixed, kidney shaped.         -   Anther length.—0.3 mm.         -   Amount of pollen.—Moderate.         -   Pistil number.—1.         -   Pistil length.—6.75 mm.         -   Stigma shape.—Club shaped.         -   Style length.—5.75 mm.         -   Ovary color.—138A. -   Fruit and seed production: Plants of the new Lavender have not been     observed for fruit and seed production. -   Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the new Lavender have not     been observed for disease or pest resistance. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Lavender plant named ‘Meerlo’ as described and illustrated. 